“Perfectly.”
“You must have some powerful reason for sealing your lips on that Raymond affair,” comments Jack; and then he growls under his breath: “Why in thunder don’t they come?”
“We may as well terminate this interview. Do your worst, Mr. Ashley.”
“That is rather theatric, Mrs. Harding,” banters Jack. “Clever woman, this,” he thinks. “She knows I would not be such a beastly cad as to tell her story to Gonzaga. Ah!”
Footsteps are heard approaching. They stop just without the summer house.
“Stay!” Ashley whispers in Isabel’s ear. “The count is here.”
She starts to ask, “how do you know it is he?” but remains mute. An instant later the new arrival is joined by another.
“Captain Alvarez!” breathes Jack, gripping Isabel’s arm. “Not a word!”
Isabel sinks into a seat. Ashley can feel her tremble. He tosses away his cigar and remains standing. The silence that broods over the garden nook is broken by Captain Alvarez, who is so near the listeners that they could reach out and almost touch him.
“While I can find no objection, Count Gonzaga, to satisfying your unfortunate demand, I would advise that you drop this matter where it is. No good can come of wittingly injuring your amour propre. Believe me—”